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The Bihar School of Yoga is a modern school of yoga founded and developed by Sri Swami Satyananda Saraswati in Munger, Bihar, India, in 1963.[1] The system of yoga taught at the Bihar School of Yoga is recognized worldwide as Bihar Yoga or the Satyananda Yoga tradition.[2] In 2019, the Bihar School of Yoga was awarded the Prime Minister’s Award for Outstanding Contribution Towards Promotion and Development of Yoga.[3]
 | |
| Type | Yoga |
|---|---|
| Established | 1963 |
| Location | , , India and international |
| Website | biharyoga.net |
Swami Satyananda inaugurated Bihar School of Yoga (BSY) on 19 January 1964, Vasant Panchami, by lighting the akhanda jyoti (eternal flame) as a dedication to his guru, Swami Sivananda Saraswati.[4]
The Bihar School of Yoga first became a centre of Yoga training from the mid-1960s: Regular fifteen-day and one-month courses were conducted in Munger, as well as a six-month sadhana course[2] and a nine-month International Teacher Training course in 1967.[4]: 50 [5] In 1968, to propagate the teachings of the BSY, Swami Satyananda went on his first world tour to Malaysia, Singapore, Australia, Japan, USA, Canada, England, France, Holland, Sweden, Austria and Italy.[6] There, he presented yoga as a science for balancing the physical, emotional and spiritual aspects of the personality, suitable for every walk of life.[7] Between 1969 and 1985, he traveled throughout India and the world many times, propagating yoga from "door to door and shore to shore"[8][9]
The gatherings and conventions became a regular feature in many countries and he was recognized as a teacher, inspirer and yogi and yoga became a household name.[10][1] In 1973, the Bihar School of Yoga hosted the Golden Jubilee Yoga Convention to celebrate the 50th year of renunciation of Sri Swami Sivananda, and the 50th birth anniversary of Swami Satyananda.[4]: 60 Eminent speakers were H.H. Jagadguru Swami Shantananda Shankaracharya of Dwarakapeeth; Sri B.S. Iyengar, Swami Chidananda of the Divine Life Society, Rishikesh; Swami Sivananda, Assam; and Kaviyoga Shuddananda Bharati of Madras.[11]
In 1983, Swami Niranjanananda Saraswati, spiritual successor to Swami Satyananda Saraswati, took over the presidency of Bihar School of Yoga. In 1988, Swami Satyananda Saraswati left Bihar School of Yoga and settled in the small hamlet of Rikhia, Jharkhand, to pursue higher sadhana and work for the upliftment of the deprived and neglected section of society.[12]
Following the mandate of his Guru, in 2009 Swami Niranjanananda, relinquished and renounced all institutional responsibilities.[13] He now lives as an independent sannyasin, following the lifestyle and sadhanas of a paramahansa sannyasin.
An institute of Yogic studies was created in 1994.[14]
The school publishes Yoga Magazine.[15] The school teaches traditional yoga in a modern style, for example making use of software apps to distribute knowledge of mantra yoga, hatha yoga, jnana yoga and raja yoga.[16]
History of Research and Social Application
In the 1970s and 1980s the Bihar School of Yoga propagated its yoga practices One of the founding principles of the Bihar School of Yoga was to 'impart yogic training to householders and sannyasins alike'.[17]
In centres, hospitals, medical colleges in India and around the world and at the Bihar School of Yoga, research was conducted to establish the effects of yogic practices and a yogic lifestyle on diseases such as asthma, diabetes, coronary and common diseases. A 40-day diabetes camp was conducted in Bilaspur in 1971, and a therapy program for diabetes in Sambalpur, Odisha, in 1978.[18]
In 1977, the Yoga Research Centre was established at Bihar School of Yoga [19] which expanded and grew into the Yoga Research Foundation founded in 1984.[4]: 75
In 1982, the BSY assisted in the yoga and research program conducted by Dr Hiroshi Motoyama.[20]
Bihar School of Yoga was also called to teach yoga in the coal and steel industries such as the Bhilai Steel Plant, Tisco Jamshedpur and subsequent years,[21] Hindustan Copper Ltd in Ghatsila, at Barauni Refinery Officer’s Club, the Indian Oil Corporation in Assam, the Indian Oil Refinery in Haldia, West Bengal, at BARC, Trombay and BHEL, Bhopal,[22] and paper industries, the Indian railways and government undertakings such as the Indian Chamber of Commerce, Kolkata, the Bhopal Management and Training Institute.[23] Participants were able to increase efficiency at work and thereby the output. Besides the corporate section, Swami Satyananda introduced the BSY teachings in schools, prisons and as a therapy in the medical field.[24]
Research in yoga was initiated in India at the K.E.M. Hospital, Bombay, by Dr K.K. Datey and at the Burla Medical College, Orissa by Dr Panda.Further research was conducted In Australia on the Management of cancer and the increase of melatonin, in the USA on cardiac disorders, addiction, biofeedback and alpha waves.[25]
In 1987, 300 school teachers received yoga training at Ganga Darshan, according to a new education policy of the Department of Education, Government of Bihar, introducing yoga in all government schools.[26]
The next generation
From 1983, Swami Niranjanananda introduced the Satyananda Yoga–Bihar Yoga tradition in all areas and sectors of society through practical and social application. Business interests, medical practitioners, educational institutions, government bodies and spiritual organizations requested seminars, workshops and classes. These seminars and courses were conducted at the Officer’s Club, Barauni, at the Indian Oil Refinery in Mathura, UP, for the Central Industrial Security Force, at the Orissa University of Agricultural Technology and at the National Aluminium Co., Bhubaneshwar, at the Railway Medical Society, Eastern Railway, Jamalpur. Other institutions where Swami Niranjan addressed a large gathering were: Bhabha Atomic Research Centre School, Mumbai, Chembur, Kothari Medical Centre, Kolkata, DIPAS (Defense Institute of Physiology and Applied Sciences), Delhi, AIIMS (All India Institute of Medical Sciences), Delhi, Indian Army Central Committee Headquarters, Lucknow.[27]
Yoga Research Foundation continued with the Yoga Asthma Study Camps internationally, research was conducted in England on AIDS and on addiction in various countries of Europe.[28]
A project that took off was yoga in prisons in the state of Bihar.The Indian army also requested for the chance to learn and apply yoga. Bihar School of Yoga conducted yoga camps for army personnel in the desert at Bikaner, in Ladakh and at the Siachen Glacier base camp.[29]
In November 1993, Swami Niranjanananda hosted the Tyag Golden Jubilee World Yoga Convention at the BSY to celebrate Swami Satyananda’s 50 years of renunciation.[30] Swami Chidananda Saraswati of the Divine Life Society, Rishikesh, gave the inaugural speech to a gathering of about 16,000 people from India and abroad. Many eminent scholars, spiritual personalities and artists took part such as: Swami Poonyananda Giri, Acharya of Niranjan Akhara, Varanasi; Dr H.R. Nagendra, President VYASA, Bangalore; Dr Ganesh Singh, Head of Department of Yogic Studies, Hari Singh Gore University, Sagar (MP); Gajapati Maharaj, Sri Divya Singh Dev, Odisha, Sri Ramananda Brahmachari, sthanapati of Agni Akhara, Varanasi; Swami Parameshwarananda Saraswati, Kailash Ashram, Rishikesh; Sri Swami Vidyananda Giri Maharaj, Acharya Brahmavidyapeetha, Kailash Peethadishwara.[31]
In 2008, Swami Niranjanananda retired and handed over the administrative responsibilities of Bihar School of Yoga to the new generation.
In 2013, yoga shivirs, programs and conventions were conducted throughout India, by senior teachers of Bihar School of Yoga and trainees of the next generation.[32] A total number of 232 shivirs were conducted in 20 states of India and in almost 500 venues – in public places, schools, places of worship, corporates, yoga centres, government bodies, health centres and hospitals, special needs homes and prisons. The yoga shivirs reached 60 cities, 60 towns and 17 villages.
In October 2013, the World Yoga Convention and Golden Jubilee of Bihar School of Yoga took place in Munger. Over 50,000 yoga practitioners, teachers, students and aspirants participated in this historic event either in person or through the internet. The Convention marked the completion of fifty years of yoga propagation by the Bihar School of Yoga.[33]
In 2015, Bihar School of Yoga embarked on its Second Chapter of Yoga, exploring the depth of yoga vidya, the science of yoga, to attain an understanding and experience of the aim of yoga.[34] The focus of the second chapter is yoga vidya and a yogic lifestyle which can be developed by applying it in one’s day-to-day life. Teacher training courses were discontinued and yoga capsules for health and sequential yoga yatras for hatha yoga, raja yoga and kriya yoga began.[35] An annual one-month training, Progressive Yoga Vidya Training is offered to sincere and committed aspirants.[36]
In 2018, the Munger Yoga Symposium officially launched the Second Chapter in which over 1,000 yogacharyas and yoga teachers from around the world participated.[37] Since 2020, Bihar School of Yoga offered online presentations for the management of health and stress-related imbalances. Bihar School of Yoga remains an independent institution, without any branches.[38]
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The contribution of Bihar School of Yoga to the world is a renaissance of yogic culture in a practical and scientific way without compromising the classical teachings of yoga.[2]: 11,20 [4]: 93-113 Bihar School of Yoga’s methodology of applying the practices of asana, pranayama, pratyahara, dharana, dhyana and sequences in hatha yoga has benefited millions of people of all ages throughout the globe.[39][40][41] It has also made the esoteric sciences of kriya yoga, kundalini yoga, nada yoga and laya yoga available in a step by step system, and provided a fresh understanding of the philosophies of raja yoga, jnana yoga, bhakti yoga, karma yoga, tantra, Samkhya and Vedanta.[40][42][43][44]
The teachings of Bihar School of Yoga present yoga as a lifestyle, which when adopted is said to aim at enhancing the quality of life, including one’s daily activities, interactions, thoughts and emotions.[45][7]: 9
The Yoga Chakra
In the integral approach of the Bihar School of Yoga six main branches of yoga are emphasized.[46] Hatha, raja and kriya yoga are referred to as the external yogas, as they focus on applying methods and techniques that aim at improving the quality of body and mind and the expression of the senses and behavior. Karma, bhakti and jnana yoga are referred to as the internal yogas, as they aim at cultivating a positive attitude towards life’s situations.[47] According to the teachings of the Bihar School of Yoga, through the aspirant’s experience, understanding and sadhana or sustained practice, ideas and perceptions can be transformed resulting in a more harmonious expression.[48][47]
In this way the teachings of the Bihar School of Yoga integrate the physical, psychological and spiritual dimensions of yoga into each level the practitioner passes through.[49]
Hatha Yoga
In the Satyananda system of yoga, as propagated by the Bihar School of Yoga, all major Hatha Yoga techniques (Shatkarma, Asana, Pranayama, Mudra, Bandha)[50][51] are integrated and combined, aiming at balancing the two major forces of life, prana shakti or vital force and chitta shakti or mental force. This is the meaning of the word ‘Hatha’, the combination of the mantra Ham, standing for pranic energy, symbolized by the sun – and the mantra Tham, standing for mental energy, symbolized by the moon. [52] It is stated in the classical Hatha Yoga texts, that when balance is attained, a third force – shushumna nadi, awakens in the center of the spinal cord expressing itself through an inner state of harmony, peace, understanding and wisdom. [52] Eventually ajna chakra, an energy center in the mid-brain awakens, leading to the experience of pure transcendental awareness.
Two of the commonly known classical texts on Hatha Yoga are: The Hatha Yoga Pradipika of Yogi Swatmarama,[52] with a strong emphasis on attaining complete physical health and balance, presents the teachings suitable for householders and the Gheranda Samhita of Sage Gheranda, which focuses more on the mental, psychological and spiritual aspects, provides the approach for Sadhakas, Yogis and Sannyasins.[53][54]
In addition to the two commentaries, Asana Pranayama Mudra Bandha (APMB), by the founder of the Bihar School of Yoga, Swami Satyananda, presents Hatha Yoga with a practice oriented approach. APMB has been translated into 15 languages. In APMB, the original aspiration of Hatha Yoga is outlined by integrating all practice aspects – asana, pranayama, mudra, bandha and shatkarmas, with detailed information on how to implement each practice and its benefits plus contraindications.[50][55]
Bihar School of Yoga presents the purification practices, the shatkarmas (the six actions),[50][55] for the general yoga practitioners to be able to use techniques such as Neti (nasal wash), Kunjal Kriya (stomach wash) and Shankaprakshalana (intestinal wash) to attain physical purification and sound health as a solid foundation for further progress in Sadhana.[7]: 9 [35]
Bihar School of Yoga teachings present the Pawanmuktasana Series 1-35. These practices aim at removing the energy blocks from the body and preventing new ones from forming. According to the teachings of the Bihar School of Yoga, the Pawanmuktasana Series is one of the most important practices of Hatha Yoga, as they aim at preparing the practitioner for the classical postures.[56][36]
One of the key feature of the teachings of the Bihar School of Yoga is the structured approach towards classical techniques. Asanas are clearly grouped into standing, backward and forward bending, twisting and inverted techniques and assigned into categories of beginners, intermediate and advanced techniques.[50][55] For each technique not only the physical perspective is introduced, but also the pranic and mental components and the related chakra and mantra awareness. Asanas are not random practices, but the practitioner is enabled to use them in a systematically structured and progressive sequence.[55]
Bihar School of Yoga was one of the first yoga institutes to publicly teach the science of Pranayama.[55][56] It presents the various classical techniques and their progressive stages from beginners to advanced level. The techniques are structured into the groups of heating, tranquilizing and balancing practices, enabling practitioners to understand the underlining intricate system of this science.[55][57]
Bihar School of Yoga presents Mudra and Bandha (gestures and internal locks) systematically,[56] as a means to attain mental and pranic stillness and redirect energy/prana internally to prepare for the meditative states of Pratyahara, Dharana and Dhyana.
The Bihar School of Yoga annually offers Hatha Yoga courses (Hatha Yoga Yatras[35]) and trainings[58] for sincere and committed Yoga aspirants.
Raja Yoga
Today the most well-known Raja Yoga text is the Yoga Sutras of Sage Patanjali, which is based on the Samkhyian school of thought. Its teaching revolves around the development of the drashta, the observer/witness quality, through a sequential process known as ashtanga yoga – the eightfold path.
The eight stages are: 1. Yama (self-restraints to regulate outer/social life) and 2. Niyama (disciplines to harmonize inner/personal life), 3. Asana (steady posture), 4. Pranayama (breath control), 5. Pratyahara (techniques to direct the mind and senses inwards), 6. Dharana (techniques to concentrate the mind), 7. Dhyana (meditative state of mind), 8. Samadhi (experience of unbroken peace and luminosity)].[59]
The Bihar School of Yoga, emphasizes that the main aim of Raja Yoga is mind management, and the integral approach of Bihar School of Yoga provides practical methods that aim at experiencing the 5th stage – Pratyahara.[60] Although many Pratyahara techniques start at a basic, gross level of awareness, when practiced systematically, the progressive stages are said to enable the aspirant to experience deep states of mind and sense withdrawal, preparing for techniques of concentration (Dharana)[61] and eventually states of meditation (Dhyana).[62]
Bihar School of Yoga teaches Pratyahara techniques that its founder, Swami Satyananda Saraswati, devised, based on the ancient scriptures and presented them in a progressive sequence in his works "Meditations from the Tantras",[63] "Sure Ways to Self-Realization" and other publications.
Kaya Sthairyam uses the physical body as a point of concentration. It aims at developing absolute stillness of the physical body as well as the senses, the cerebral input and output, the perceptions and associations and the pranas, leading to mental concentration.[64]
Ajapa Japa incorporates awareness of breath, internal psychic passages and Mantra. It is a complete Sadhana in which the Mantra So Ham, which corresponds to the subtle sound of the breath, is applied.[65]
Antar Mouna works with the activities of the waking consciousness. The practitioner learns to witness his thoughts and feelings in a neutral way. Through a sequence of six stages, the technique aims at progressively reducing the congestion of the mind and bringing about calmness and developing concentration.[66]
Satyananda Yoga Nidra® is both a systematic deep relaxation technique and a tantric meditation.[67] Through a sequence of eight stages, it provides a systematic method to induce complete physical, mental and emotional relaxation. Satyananda Yoga Nidra is practiced lying on the back in Shavasana (corps pose) and one appears to be asleep. However, in experienced practitioners it is said, that the consciousness functions at a deeper level of awareness, allowing mental blockages to be removed so that the inner potential of the practitioner can unfold.[68] The expositions in the publication Yoga Nidra, by Swami Satyananda, the founder of the Bihar School of yoga, has become a standard in many of the world wide yoga teacher training courses.[69]
The Bihar School of Yoga annually offers Raja Yoga training (Raja Yoga Yatras).[58]
Kriya Yoga
In the present age, there are two mainstreams of kriya yoga teaching: one of Paramahamsa Yogananda and the other of Paramahamsa Satyananda.[70]
At the Bihar School of Yoga the advanced Kriya Yoga has been taught since the late 1960s. The word "Kriya" means activity which refers to specific movements of consciousness which is one of the key components of the Kriya Yoga system.[71] As an advanced system of yoga, it is said to enable to practitioner to access the psychic or spiritual dimension of human existence.[72]
Swami Satyananda, the founder of the Bihar School of Yoga, was one of the yoga exponents to opened up the science of Kriya Yoga and presented it to the public.[71] Originally there are more than 76 kriyas mentioned in the scriptures. The teachings of the Bihar School of Yoga describe 20 of them[73] in detail and structure them to be learnt over a period of 3 years.
On a practical level it aims at the awakening of the dormant kundalini energy, thus allowing a sadhaka (practitioner) to access his complete human potential.[72] In most of the classical yoga systems, the mind is wilfully brought under control. In Kriya Yoga however, as taught by the Bihar School of Yoga, the practitioner is not asked to counteract the disturbances of the mind. He is given specific, subtle inner movements, that aim at systematically refining his consciousness and releasing energy.[74]
Previously Kriya Yoga was handed down from teacher to disciple by word of mouth (oral tradition) and none of the classical scriptures describe the techniques in detail, so the ordinary practitioner could understand how to apply them.[72]
The Bihar School of Yoga annually offers Kriya Yoga courses (Kriya Yoga Yatras 1–3).[58][75] In the book A Systematic Course in the Ancient Tantric Techniques of Yoga & Kriya,[76] published by the Yoga Publication Trust, a 3 years correspondence course in Kriya Yoga is presented.
The Kriya Yoga, as outlined in the teachings of the Bihar School of Yoga, consist of a combination of asana (body posture), pranayama (breathing techniques), mudra (gestures), bandha (inner locks), mantra (subtle sounds), chakra (energy centers) awareness, psychic passage awareness and visualization. They are divided in 3 sections: pratyahara kriyas, dharana kriyas and dhyana kriyas. This sequential progress aims at enabling the practitioner to progress through the related meditative states of mind and consciousness.[74]
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The Prime Minister of India conferred the National Yoga Award 2019 on the Bihar School of Yoga for outstanding contributions to the promotion and development of yoga.[3]
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